South Carolina Humanities is thrilled to announce the 30th SC Humanities Festival, celebrating three decades of enriching public humanities programming across the state. Since its inception in 1993, launched in honor of SC Humanities’ 20th anniversary, the festival has traveled to more than 23 communities, fostering connections through local history, arts, and storytelling. The 2025 Festival will be held in Lancaster County in partnership with the Lancaster County Council of the Arts on Friday, October 17 – Sunday, October 19. Check out the full schedule, below.
“We are absolutely thrilled to bring the 30th annual South Carolina Humanities Festival to Lancaster! This is our moment to shine as we share the heart, history, and creative spirit of our community with the entire state,” said Eric Grace, Executive Director of the Lancaster County Council of the Arts. “We can’t wait to welcome guests to experience the arts, stories, and culture that make Lancaster so special.”
This milestone year marks a proud moment for the organization and for South Carolinians. What began as a regional initiative has blossomed into a prestigious statewide celebration engaging citizens in lectures, discussions, films, exhibits, performances, and other community-driven humanities experiences.
The festival will offer immersive experiences rooted in local identity and history. Attendees can expect:
- Thoughtful lectures and panel discussions featuring historians, artists, and authors
- Cultural exhibitions and film screenings highlighting the host region’s heritage
- Engaging public programming—including storytelling, performances, hands-on workshops, and youth-focused events
- Free and accessible participation, with many events open to the public
As SC Humanities’ signature statewide initiative, the SC Humanities Festival embodies the organization’s mission to inspire, engage, and enrich South Carolinians through history, visual arts, poetry, and more. Building on years of annual events, dating back to early investments in statewide programming, the festival continues to unite partners and audiences in thoughtful cultural exploration.
“Reaching the 30th Humanities Festival is incredibly meaningful for us,” said Dr. Jennifer Gunter, Executive Director of SC Humanities. “We’ve partnered with libraries, museums, scholars, artists—and most importantly, with communities themselves—to elevate South Carolina’s rich cultural heritage and shared stories —and a lasting sense of community, conversation, and culture.”
For media inquiries or additional details about the 30th SC Humanities Festival—including schedules, locations, and event highlights—visit the festival website at schumanities.org/annualevents/humanitiesfestival/ or contact SC Humanities at (803) 771-2477.
About South Carolina Humanities
The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. Established in 1973, this 501(c)3 organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of community leaders from throughout the state. It presents and supports literary initiatives, lectures, exhibits, festivals, publications, oral history projects, videos, and other humanities-based experiences that directly or indirectly reach more than 250,000 citizens annually. South Carolina Humanities receives funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities as well as corporate, foundation and individual donors. The National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.
The full 2025 SC Humanities Festival schedule is available below:
Friday, October 17, 2025
All Day Events: (view festival guide for specific times): Springs Close Collection at the Historic Springs House, Pop-up Cultural Exhibits at various locations in downtown, Paws on Parade, Open Artist Studios, USCL Native American Studies Center
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Opening Night Reception (tickets required)
Location: Lancaster County Council of the Arts, 201 W Gay St, Lancaster, SC 29720
Celebrate the Humanities Festival in Lancaster County with the Opening Night Reception. Join Dr. Jennifer Gunter, SC Humanities Executive Director, for refreshments and festival program overview, as well as the opening of the exhibition, The Springs Close Family Collection.
Tickets: $50 per person
Reserve a ticket:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2025-humanities-festival-opening-reception
Historic Springs House, 201 W Gay St, Lancaster, SC 29720Saturday, October 18, 2025
All Day Events (view festival guide for specific times): Springs Close Collection at the Historic Springs House, Tour of the Historic Craig House, Pop-up Cultural Exhibits at various locations in downtown, Paws on Parade, Lancaster County History Museum, Open Artist Studios, USCL Native American Studies Center
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Pop-Up Art Market
Native American Studies Center, 119 S Main St, Lancaster, SC 29720
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Kids Storytime with Arts/Crafts
Mural Court
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Artifact ID with Chris Judge
Native American Studies Center, 119 S Main St, Lancaster, SC 29720
11:00 a.m.
Lecture: Native American Archaeology in South Carolina
Presented by Chris Judge
USC Lancaster Native American Studies Center, 119 S Main St, Lancaster, SC 29720
11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
Guided Walking Tour of Public Art and Historic Downtown Lancaster
Historic Springs House
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Storywalk Opening
Lindsay Pettus Greenway, 453 Colonial Ave, Lancaster, SC 29720
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Explore Art and Nature with Auntie Greenway
Lindsay Pettus Greenway, 453 Colonial Ave, Lancaster, SC 29720
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Guided Walking Tour: Public Art on the Greenway
Lindsay Pettus Greenway, 453 Colonial Ave, Lancaster, SC 29720
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Lecture: The Rise of 21st Century Afrofuturism in Literature, Music, and Film
Presented by Dr. Len Lawson
Cultural Arts Center, 309 W Gay St, Lancaster, SC 29720
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Family Picnic on the Greenway
Join us for a family picnic on the Greenway. LCCA will provide blankets and fun family activities.
1:00 p.m.
Grant Writing Workshop with SC Humanities
Historic Springs House, 201 W Gay St, Lancaster, SC 29720
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Lecture and Longleaf Pine Needle Basketry Workshop with Beckee Garris
USCL Native American Studies Center, 119 S Main St, Lancaster, SC 29720
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Lecture on Colonel Springs with Ann Evans and Dr. Chris Bundrick
Cultural Arts Center, 309 W Gay St, Lancaster, SC 29720
7:00 p.m. – until
Movie Showing of Nina May McKinney in “Hallelujah” with a brief introduction by local film historian, Bart Montgomery (free movie snacks provided)
Historic Springs House, 201 W Gay St, Lancaster, SC 29720
Sunday, October 19, 2025
All Day Events (view festival guide for specific times): Springs Close Collection at the Historic Springs House, Pop-up Cultural Exhibits at various locations in downtown, Paws on Parade, Lancaster County History Museum, Open Artist Studios, USCL Native American Studies Center
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Lecture on the Works Progress Administration with Dr. Susan Wallerstein
Historic Courthouse, 104 North Main Street, Lancaster, SC 29720
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Guided Walking Tour of Public Art and Historic Downtown Lancaster.
Historic Springs House
3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Poetry & Prose
The Daily Grind Coffee Bar, 315 S Main St, Lancaster, SC 29720
3:00 p.m.
Bach Akademie Charlotte Concert (tickets required)
Cultural Arts Center, 309 W Gay St, Lancaster, SC 29720
Purchase tickets: https://lcshp.org/cultural-arts-center-concerts-events
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Closing Event at Mural Court
Join us as we celebrate the closing of the 2025 Humanities Festival with family activities, food trucks, and live music.
Mural Court, Dunlap Street across from the Historic Courthouse
This project was funded in part by the South Carolina Arts Commission which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
This project was funded in part by the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism.
